You are always going to end up offending someone when you strive to do great things. Be it extraordinary, “real” or plain old honest, some aspect of such work will cast shadow upon someone’s sensitivities. Even when your intentions are wholly benevolent someone will inevitably find reason to misinterpret or misunderstand your work and inadvertently turn its significance inside out, and in turn ignite controversy where there should be none. Unfortunately, we are all but human and envy does funny things to people, often misorienting them against you should they covet your talent.

Alas, you must not panic. Instead take a deep breath and do not lose sight of what is meaningful to you. After all its your energy, your time and ultimately the fruit of your labor which they are picking apart. Don’t fret and don’t let the bug bites bother you more than they should.

Sure, sure, you’ll likely feel a little perturbed or upset or saddened by any diminutive remarks aimed at you, but that’s probably because you’ve gotten far too accustomed to praise. This is especially true if you are in fact accomplishing above and beyond the norm, because it is then that the pinprick of the critic’s thorn can be most painful, for their words come at you like a needle to an inflated ego.

So, just let go of your bad feelings, they are not worth your time – you’ve just got too much good, if not great, work to do to, than to dwell on the pettiness of others.

Ignore the detractors. Especially those that shout such nonsense as “You’re obsessed,” You’re addicted,” “You’re strange….” The truth is that these poor souls simply do not understand what it means to be passionate about something, for the truth is that the truth is relative. Moreover, the greatest men and women of our times have not succeed by being generalists. No, they were focused upon (obsessed with) their work, unrelenting, persistent and simply determined to make the most of their inspiration, something most people lack.

*a simply elegant example: mygigi's triangle

*please note: the photographer and the photograph cited do not necessarily reflect the views of the lesson or any other random thoughts of the writer.

Photographing Strangers Click Sans Prejudice